Description
The Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) category provides assistance to recipients who have long-term barriers to employment that are not expected to be overcome in the short term.
Benefit Amount
Disability Assistance Rate Table – gov.bc.ca
Eligibility Criteria
Recipients who qualify for Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) are those who meet the following criteria:
- has a health condition that has lasted for at least 1 year and is likely to continue for at least 2 more years or has a health condition that has occurred frequently in the past year and is likely to continue for at least two more years. This health condition is a barrier that seriously impedes a person’s ability to search for, accept or continue in employment
AND
- has at least one additional barrier (listed under Barriers to Employment, below) that seriously impedes the person from searching for, accepting or continuing in employment. The recipient has at least one additional barrier that seriously impedes the recipient’s ability to search for, accept, or continue in employment. A barrier is considered to seriously impede the recipient’s ability to search for, accept, or continue in employment when, because of the barrier, the recipient is unable to participate in employment that would enable independence from income assistance or that requires an accommodation to obtain or maintain employment
Barriers that seriously impede employment are:
- Currently experiencing homelessness or having experienced homelessness in the past 12 months.
- Currently experiencing domestic violence or having experienced domestic violence in the past 6 months
- Less than Grade 12 education
- Needing English language skills training
- Not having basic skills for employment
- Having a Criminal Record
- Having accessed emergency health, mental health or addiction services multiple times within the past 12 months
- Recent Convention refugee (within the past 24 months) or currently a refugee claimant or person applying for protection [see Related Links- Citizenship Requirements- Policy- Refugee Claimants or Persons Applying for Protection]
- Former Child in Care (Ministry of Children and Family Development or similar Canadian jurisdiction)
- Other severe barrier to employment listed on their application
Application Process
Step 1: Request for PPMB Assessment
- If a request for a PPMB Application is received, ministry staff must confirm if the person is eligible as a recipient of income assistance or hardship assistance
- The PPMB Application Form (HR2892) may not be provided if the person is not eligible for income assistance or hardship assistance, or if they or their spouse has the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation
- If ministry staff determine the person is not eligible to apply for PPMB, ministry staff must advise that the decision to not provide a PPMB application form may be reconsidered
Step 2: Provide the Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers Application Form (HR2892)
- If the recipient is eligible to apply for PPMB, provide the Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers Application Form (HR2892)
Step 3: Initial Adjudication
- Health Assistance (HA) adjudicates the PPMB application form.
- If PPMB is approved, HA send a decision letter to the recipient. PPMB status is effective the first month following approval.
- If PPMB is denied, HA send a decision letter and decision summary to the recipient to advise of reasons for the denial and right to reconsideration.